Had a bit of writer's block, but now I've decided to continue this. R&R please!


"So Rachel Berry is in New York."

Rachel spun around, having recognised the smooth voice immediately. She blinked at the figure in front of her, lit softly by the autumn light, attempting to compose a show face to hide her shock and the emotions that were flying back to her. Rachel nodded, refusing to look him in the eye.

"I got here a few weeks ago. I can't say I expected to run into you quite so soon." She told him.

Jesse chuckled and looked around. They were in Central Park, and the meeting had actually just been a lucky coincidence.

"I came for a walk in the park and I saw you." Jesse replied. "I followed you for a bit, to make sure I wasn't going to end up walking up to random brunettes and accusing them of being Rachel Berry."

"You say it like an insult." Rachel muttered, still refusing to look at him. His mere presence was just confusing her. She fiddled with her top, which didn't go unnoticed by Jesse. He took note that he still had some effect on her. "How have you been?" She asked him after a moment of silence.

"Good." Jesse said with a small smile, although Rachel couldn't be sure how genuine it was. "Yourself?"

"I've been pretty good. Getting used to New York. It's so much brighter than Lima." Rachel told him. "Plus, it feels like I'm finally free. I can just forget everything that happened and focus on myself for once."

"Everything?" Jesse asked quietly, moving closer to her. She looked up; meeting his eyes and shook her head slightly before looking back at the ground again.

"I suppose not everything." She corrected herself, and they stayed silent for a moment. "So, I hear you're staring in a show right now. How's that going?" Rachel asked him, staring over his shoulder, looking anywhere but his eyes.

She'd more than heard about it. As much as she'd never admit it, she'd been following his career, wondering if his decision to pick winning over her had paid off. When she'd arrived in New York she'd considered getting tickets to see his play, telling herself that she had to scope out the upcoming Broadway leads, and she couldn't deny that he was going to do well.

"It's going well." Jesse told her. "It's coming to an end soon- I've been doing it since I arrived here. But the director has a new project coming up, and he's told me that if I auditioned I'd be likely to get the lead, so I may continue with him and a lot of the cast."

"Sounds good." Rachel gave him a small smile. "You've done well for yourself."

Jesse nodded slightly. "Do you have any upcoming work?" He asked her.

"I've got a few auditions for various shows, TV programmes and films, my agents very good like that. I've also recently got in touch with Shelby, and she has a bit of swing in the business, as I'm sure you know." She said, looking up at him.

"Yeah, I know. We had countless special stars coming in to lecture Vocal Adrenaline." Jesse replied, remember the various celebrities that Shelby had convinced to come and speak to her glee club.

"Well, not everyone had those opportunities." Rachel said briskly. "I can't imagine how awful McKinley must have seemed to you after Carmel." Her tone was layered with sarcasm.

"I liked McKinley." Jesse said, subconsciously moving closer to Rachel. "It holds a lot of good memories." Rachel looked down at the ground, her heart rate quickening at the proximity. "When I think of McKinley I think of you." Rachel finally looked up into his eyes, her brown eyes meeting his green.

Jesse raised his hand and slowly and cupped her cheek. She flinched at the contact, but didn't move away, breathing shallowly. She felt his hand push back her hair as his thumb lightly stroked her cheek. They didn't break eye contact; his gaze was intense but Rachel refused to break it.

Jesse inclined his head, and Rachel tilted hers upwards, but before their lips met, Jesse felt Rachel's hands on his shoulders, pushing him back.

"No, this isn't going to happen." Rachel muttered, her cheeks red. "I'm not going to do this." She took a step back, out of his reach.

"Why?" Jesse asked her, feeling teased.

"You know why." Rachel said. "You know exactly what you did. I don't care if you're sorry, I have to protect my heart."

"But I am sorry." Jesse replied, a slight begging tone to his voice. "Why can't we forget the past? At least try and be friends."

"I can't let you into my life again Jesse." Rachel looked up at him. "I'm not going to be that naive girl again who believed every word you said. I've learnt from the past; I'm not going to fall for you again."

"Why can't we just be friends?" Jesse repeated, keeping the longing off his face.

"I've got to go." Rachel spluttered out when she couldn't think of an excuse that wasn't 'I'm afraid that I'll fall in love with you again'. "I'll probably see you around…"

"Wait!" Jesse called after her, and Rachel cursed herself for actually stopping. "If you have to go now, and I do kinda too, I've got to go to the theatre, can't we at least meet tomorrow?"

"Jesse, I just said-" Rachel began, but he cut her off.

"At least let me try and gain your trust." He said, grasping her hands, and to his surprise she didn't pull away. "Opposite my theatre, and I'm sure you know it, there's a little coffee shop. Meet me there tomorrow?" He asked with baited breath.

"I don't know…" Rachel said, but she couldn't really find a reason to say no. If he was genuine, then she was missing out on her chance. And after all, all he wanted with friendship. And she couldn't think straight with him holding her hands, the mere touch sending shivers down her. She sighed. "Okay, whatever. What time?"

"About two?" He suggested. Rachel nodded.

"Two o clock then." She said, removing her hands from his. "See you then."

Rachel turned and walked away before Jesse could stop her. She couldn't help but allow a small smile to creep across her face. As confused as she was, and as reluctant as she was to allow Jesse back into her life, because she knew she'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't have feelings for him, she couldn't help but feel a warm glow. Maybe he really had changed.

Rachel had been in New York a few weeks, having finished collage recently. She'd returned to Ohio to collect her things and sort everything out, before finally going to the big city. She adored New York already.

Finn and Rachel had been on and off constantly, and it wasn't until after she'd returned home that she'd realised what she'd wanted.


"Finn." Rachel said as she stood on Finn's porch with him. "I need to talk to you."

"You don't need to." Finn interrupted, looking at the ground. "I know you're breaking up with me."

"I'm sorry Finn." Rachel told him. "I've been thinking a lot recently, and we've drifted apart." Rachel didn't voice the feelings that she had for someone else, because she was still denying them to herself. "It's over between us."

"I know." Finn said. "You're off to New York anyway, and I'm staying here." He looked up and gave her a lopsided smile. "Your dreams are bigger than me." He had to let her go. He'd always known there would be the day where Rachel would remember what she'd always wanted. And he knew that he had to allow her that.

Rachel gave him a sad smile and put her hand on his arm.

"Thank you Finn." She looked him in the eye. "You've always been such a good friend." Finn nodded, not trusting himself to speak anymore. Rachel sighed and stood on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. "You'll keep in touch, won't you?" She asked him.

"Of course." Finn answered. "You have to keep me updated on the Big Apple. And I want tickets to your shows."

Rachel gave him a final smile. "I should be going now." Finn nodded. Rachel reached up to stroke his cheek. "Bye Finn." She told him. The silent 'for forever' was heard by both of them.

"Bye Rachel." Finn said as Rachel turned and walked down the path. He watched her go, knowing it was for the best. She didn't love him, and she had her dreams to follow, a career to have. He had to let live her life.


"Why do you look so happy St James?" Laurie asked as Jesse entered through the stage door of the theatre.

Laurel Baites was a beautiful twenty two year old girl, who played opposite Jesse. She despised her full name, so she went by Laurie. She was a classic beauty with her long, curly red hair and a pale, freckled complexion and green eyes. Her and Jesse had met at the audition for the show, and they'd grown close working together. As the two leads, they spent a lot of time around each other, and Jesse had never been closer or more comfortable with anyone in his life. There were so many rumours doubting the platonic nature of their relationship, and although their pair was often complimented on the chemistry and the spark between them, there were no romantic feelings.

"Ran into an old friend." Jesse replied as they walked the corridors. They had a while before they needed to be ready, so they went into Laurie's dressing room.

"Meeting old friends makes you look like a dog that's just been told it can go on walkies?" Laurie said sceptically.

"It's a long story." Jesse said, smiling at her simile and flopping into one of the chairs and looking at the photos of them and the cast that adorned her walls. "She's an ex, and it was kinda messy from beginning to end. But hopefully I can make it work."

"The ex you so obviously never got over?" Laurie asked, knowing Jesse hadn't had a proper relationship in years. "Explain." The red head demanded, and Jesse recounted the whole story of his and Rachel's relationship, from the meeting at the music store, to the egging, to the conversation at regionals up until their meeting in the park.

"You are an awful person." Laurie said as he finished. "You egged a vegan? And you broke her heart at the same time!"

"Shut it, Laurel." Jesse smirked, earning a playful hit from Laurie. "I didn't want to, the team made me."

"The team made me." Laurie mimicked in a high-pitched voice, laughing. "But seriously, that is pretty awful. I can see why she hates you."

"She doesn't hate me." Jesse protested.

"She should." Laurie laughed. "I'm surprised she even stopped to listen to you."

"It's obviously just the St James charm." Jesse grinned.

"Oh, obviously." Laurie muttered sarcastically. "Who can resist that?"

Jesse's grin widened as he stood up to prepare for the night's show. "Glad to see you agree, Baites." He smirked.

"Sarcasm, Jesse." Laurie replied. "Anyway, I need to get changed, so if you'd kindly leave the room." She said, pushing him out of the door. Jesse just smirked and went back to his dressing room. Even if he had his love life to sort out, the show must go on.


Review please.